He Turns on Party That Turned Him Out

Rep. Matthew G. Martinez, Democrat or Republican?

Throughout his career, the veteran San Gabriel Valley congressman has been a reliable Democratic vote.

But since losing his party’s renomination earlier this year--so far, the only incumbent member of Congress anywhere in the nation to suffer such a fate--Martinez has been siding more often with the likes of House Majority Whip Tom DeLay (R-Texas) than Minority Leader Richard A. Gephardt (D-Mo.).

Martinez’s turnaround has been dramatic. Last year, he voted the Democratic Party line 92% of the time, according to Congressional Quarterly. Since his defeat in California’s March 7 primary, he has sided with a majority of his Democratic colleagues on only about 18% of the votes that have clearly split along party lines, a Times analysis found.

“We expect him to join our caucus any moment,” kidded Jim Wilkinson, spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee.

In the House, where Republicans hold a fragile six-vote majority over Democrats, the low-profile Martinez has suddenly found himself a center of attention.

“If we get down to counting votes, and we need one vote, it will be a problem,” a Democratic leadership aide told Roll Call, a Capitol Hill newspaper. “But what can we do about it?”

Apparently, not much.

Martinez, for instance, was among eight Democrats joining the GOP majority in a 206-205 vote paving the way for consideration of a nuclear storage bill opposed by a majority of Democrats.

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His rebellious streak, Democratic colleagues say, is rooted in his bitter primary loss to a fellow Democrat, state Sen. Hilda Solis (D-La Puente).

The 71-year-old Martinez, whose nine terms in the House made him Congress’ most senior Latino, was abandoned by the state Democratic Party, the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO and some of his Democratic colleagues in the March primary. Solis has no GOP opponent in the November election in the heavily Democratic 31st district.

Martinez, who never was accessible to the press even before this year’s primary, isn’t any more willing now to discuss his voting record. He did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

Many lawmakers occasionally break from their party.

Rep. Tom Campbell (R-San Jose), who is giving up his House seat to run as the GOP nominee against Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein this November, broke from his party last year more than any Republican west of the Mississippi. Still, he voted with the GOP majority on 67% of the votes that split along party lines, according to Congressional Quarterly.

Virginia Rep. Virgil H. Goode Jr. bolted his party more than any House member last year, siding with the Democratic majority on just 22% of party-line votes. In January, Goode announced that he would run for reelection as an independent; he is now being courted by the GOP.

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Martinez, a Republican early in his career, was still a registered Democrat as of last week, according to county records.

But he is on track to break Goode’s record from last year as the most rebellious Democrat. In one procedural vote, Martinez was the lone Democrat voting with Republicans.

Recently, he joined Republicans in blocking a Democratic effort to repeal a prohibition on women in the military from obtaining abortions at military hospitals overseas, even if they pay for the procedure.

Martinez in previous years had voted to lift the ban. But the latest repeal effort was led by Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Garden Grove), who angered Martinez during the primary campaign by endorsing Solis.

Martinez also was one of only six Democrats to vote for a GOP budget resolution.

And, he broke with the majority of Democrats to support a constitutional amendment to require a two-thirds vote of each chamber in Congress for tax increases, although he has voted against similar measures in the past.

Although long regarded as a friend of labor, he also supported, over the objections of union leaders, permanent trade relations with China.

Maybe that wasn’t such a surprise. Remember, the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor backed Solis.

A Democratic leadership aide lamented recently that Martinez’s rebellious streak is one of the drawbacks of California’s early primary.

Back in the congressman’s district, Nina Sharky, an Alhambra Democratic Club activist and Solis backer, said, “It makes me really sad.”

But, looking ahead to January when Solis will almost assuredly be sworn in as Martinez’s successor, Sharky noted, “This too shall pass.”